PANHANDLERS SEEM TO BE APPEARING IN MORE AREAS AROUND OKLAHOMA CITY. AND THE CITY IS VERY AWARE OF IT... BUT IT CAN'T RUN THEM OFF. NEW TONIGHT, K-O-C-O'S DAVE DETLING IN THE PLAZA DISTRICT. DAVE, WE HEAR THERE HAVE BEEN PANHANDLING COMPLAINTS THERE LATELY. THESE DINERS HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN THEM. PORTIONS OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION ASKING FOR MONEY. IT'S TECHNICALLY LEGAL --- BUT WHEN THEY GET IN YOUR FACE --- THE CITY SAYS THAT'S WHEN YOU SHOULD RETHINK YOUR OPTIONS. IN THE PLAZA DISTRICT BEGGING FOR CASH COMES WITH MIXED REVIEWS C02 :20-:25 Panhandling on this street is looked at kind of --- mostly like an art form. C06 03:07-03:11 It's a nuisance when you're coming into businesses and asking people. THE LATTER --- KNOWN AS AGGRESSIVE PANHANDING --- IS ILLEGAL. NUMBERS HAVE GONE DOWN IN THE PLAZA DISTRICT BUT BUSINESSES SAYS EVERY NOW AND THEN --- THEY HAVE TO CALL POLICE. C06 03:50-55 There's people that have come around so many times that being polite at a certain point doesn't seem to work. CITY CODE REQUIRES PANHANDLERS OBTAIN A PERMIT --- MOST OF THEM DON'T --- AND GIVING THEM MONEY HOMELESS ADVOCATES SAY --- ONLY FUELS ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS. C31 12:43-52 half the content is homeless issues all sold by homeless people and former panhandlers. TO BREAK THE CYLCE HOMELESS ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN STRAUGHAN RECOMMENDS BUYING HOMELESS PUBLICATIONS OR TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS. THE FUNDS DIRECTLY HELP THOSE IN NEED. THE CITY SAYS PANHANDLING WON'T GO AWAY --- IT'S TECHNICALLY A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT --- STILL HOMELESS ADVOCATES WANT PEOPLE TO THINK TWICE BEFORE SPARING YOUR CHANGE. C02 :59-01:I'm not going to sit here and say I'm not going to give them money because some people are down on their luck and need help and i'll be that guy. AND ACCORDING TO THE HOMELESS ALLIANCE --- THE POLICE DEPARTMENT JUST LAUNCED A HOMELESS OUTREACH TEAM. THEY'LL BE OUT IN THE FIELD ADDRESSING CONCERNS LIKE PANHANDLING. IN THE PLAZA DISTRICT, DAVE DETLING, KOCO 5 NEWS. TIME FOR WEATHER